1. NISA Update: I'm hearing @NISALeague is looking to submit for sanctioning before April 1 application deadline. NISA's application would be considered in the following BOG meeting planned for May.— Chris Kivlehan (@kivlehan) February 4, 2018
I am sorry to pass on news this morning that NISA Co-founder Jack Cummins has died unexpectedly after a brief illness.Jack lived life passionately and will be missed by all who knew him. Life is short. Like Jack, make the most of it and leave the world a better place.Peace— peter wilt (@PeterWilt1) February 13, 2018
Akron plans to have a team if the league gets off the ground. https://www.rubbercityfc.com/2018/03/10/professional-soccer-coming-to-akron/
At least they have deep pockets http://mindequalsblown.net/author/joshua-austin And the VP's a security guard so at least they can save on that expense. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-novak-54958a40/ All it takes is wanting it.
WTF? That would mean that they have basically no standards and I can only imagine would be a bigger shit show than the NASL ever was. Looks like a new NPSL with more costs and higher travel expenses.
----------- Could not agree more ! We need to clean up all these ideas of multiple teams in the same division levels. We should be working towards plenty of teams within each level. My quick clean up would be= NASL = Dead (Finally) NISA = USSF HAVE A BACKBONE AND DON'T APPROVE THEIR APPLICATION. (please) We don't need another league, we need stability at this point and time. Any city who was thinking of being NISA could surely land in USL2 or USL3 depending on their level of investment. NPSL= If you believe they have more flexible player rules than PDL, this league should fit between the upcoming USL3 and PDL. Otherwise my fantasy is to merge with PDL, create a huge league with regional divisions that would cover the whole county and keep travel reasonable/local. Some of these teams, if they have bigger plans could jump to USL3.
Having a team that is announced as a hopeful franchise and their VP/Head Scout is still in college and a security guard is not exactly the best way forward, and would be wildly out of place in a real D2 league. But then I suppose that NISA doesn't have much control over who is "planning on competing" in the league.
Stephen York, you realize this isn't a NISA announcement right? The announcement is from a club that is forming and contacting NISA about their requirements. Do you think they will be accepted in their present form? Or do you think you might want to wait to see what they look like IF they are accepted? PS: big emphasis on IF.
I sure do realize that, hence my last sentence: "But then I suppose that NISA doesn't have much control over who is "planning on competing" in the league."
@nisaofficial is tweeting and retweeting everything positive they can find about this exciting new Akron club proposal. Don't be so innocent. Go back to page 1 and read the "EXCLUSIVE" article on the NISA from June. It's impressive in its credulity. I think what did it in was Peter Wilt counting on NASL owners to agree to a pyramidal structure supervised by one Peter Wilt who would collect vigorish for services rendered and everyone would be happy and financially secure, with the NASL owners at the top. He did not count on Rocco and Silva asking themselves who the hell is Peter Wilt and why should he we be paying HIM anything? Since they were the only NASL owners with any power, Wilt's plan was sunk. Thus NASL is dead and NISA is entertaining offers from security guards and sports marketers who have a dream but can only afford a no-money-down soccer club.
Looks like Chattanooga may have second thoughts. This thing is unraveling quick. https://www.soctakes.com/2018/03/14/chattanooga-fc-looks-to-unite-us-soccer-backs-away-from-nisa/
"Unanimously, each conversation has heaped praise on the integrity of NISA co-founder Peter Wilt, but raised concerns about the other partners involved in the NISA project...." "...Soc Takes understands that Robert Palmer, who was in attendance at the meeting, along with Riccardo Silva..."
From the meeting today it seems like NISA and Division Zero are dead in the water. Not much support for them. Looks like the popular idea is to work under USASA. So my guess is NPSL, UPSL, & ASL will all merge or have some sort of working relationship.
So, Palmer---a guy that has owned a soccer club for all of 1.5 years---is now considered to be the leader among these clubs.... I guess PT Barnum was right.
Charlotte is backing away too. Another one of @NISALeague 's original markets - @704_FC - is wavering on its commitment to NISA. A spokesperson informed @SocTakes :"We believe in the structure of NISA, but are fully exploring our options to bring our community a team in the field ASAP."— Nipun Chopra, PhD (@NipunChopra7) March 15, 2018
So much for all that I guess. Seems like there were two possible paths: the NISA or an elite tier for the NPSL and there doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm for either when it actually comes down to money. Here's where I disagree with Chattanooga and Beau Chattanooga: https://rantingsoccerdad.com/2018/0...nooga-whats-the-next-step-for-u-s-pro-soccer/ They've managed to identify the problem: the clubs are "a success in spite of their leagues, not because of it". Which suggests that what needs to be fixed are the leagues. But to fix the leagues, there needs to be a set of owners who will put the league ahead of the clubs. Instead, we have owners who won't participate in a league unless it 100% matches their interests and so will miss out on a league that would give them 80% of what they want. As for an elite tier for the amateur teams, I think Stockton shows why it's kind of silly. Here's the financials. https://medium.com/stockadefc/stock...cess-from-our-clubs-2nd-season-in-45e2935dd31 I liked this quote: 5k or 10k wouldn't fund any of that stuff. This is all just imaginary.
Actually athletics68, nothing is certain, which is why I like the article at roguesoccer.wordpress.com which lays out the possibilities of several leagues. There may be divisional divide between the leagues, which is fine, what is happening here is a reformation of D2/3 and possibly the creation of a D4 both within USSF [NISA] and USASA [and some of these leagues will probably take longer to start]. And please, do not take any of these as long term stable solutions to lower division soccer. If nothing else over the last 25 years instability is the norm as leagues form, reform, and merge regularly. 2019 is going to be a significant year as these clubs figure out where to play and what they want from the league they join. The summit in Chattanooga is the first of a few steps in sorting this out. It isn't dull.
Well that didn’t last long for Akron. http://scratchingthepitch.com/2018/03/22/rubber-city-fc-bounces-from-nisa-to-npsl/
When Chattanooga FC stepped away from its commitment to participate in NISA, it sparked doubts about the league’s ability to realize its vision. “We asked specific questions about teams and plans for the league moving forward. The answers we received did not give us any faith that this league could generate enough interest or competition to make it financially viable for any team, let alone a team with limited funding like ours,” said Austin.
Not a ringing endorsement at all. Hopefully NPSL will give these two clubs the stability they need to succeed.